Queen’s Baton Relay visits Birmingham Children Hospital
Birmingham Children’s Hospital welcomed a visit from the Queen’s Baton Relay this morning (Thursday 28 July), as it began its final leg of the journey towards the Opening Ceremony at Alexander Stadium.
The Baton bearer, Ollie Phillips, a former England rugby sevens international, took the baton from Waterfall House, through the hospital’s first floor and out of the main entrance, cheered on by enthusiastic patients, families and colleagues who lined the corridors. Many were holding their teddies of mascot Perry that were given to patients across the hospital this week.
Sarah-Jane Marsh CBE, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (BWC) Chief Executive, said: “It’s been absolutely amazing. We’ve been looking forward to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham for years so for the moment to arrive when it’s starting and for the Children’s Hospital to be part of that and to be able to include children, young people and families has been a really special morning.
“It was brilliant to see Perry coming through the hospital and the energy. Children and young people had been decorating, and making banners throughout the week and had been given Perry mascots but it really came to life as the baton appeared.
“Obviously we’ve got a lot of really sick children in the hospital, but it didn’t feel like a place for sick children, it felt like a place for joy and happiness and huge amounts of positivity.
“I think that’s one of the things that makes the Children’s Hospital so special, children and young people first and treatment and illness second and it felt like that today.”
The baton left the hospital to big cheers from the gathered crowd to continue the last leg of its 294-day-long journey across the Commonwealth.
Hospital staff from across the Commonwealth were also on hand to welcome the baton and wave it on its way to the opening ceremony.
Mr Michael Singh, a Paediatric Surgeon said, “It’s been very, very exciting – it was really good to see Perry the bull this morning and to see the baton bearers, and the transition from one bearer to the next. The crowd was very excited!”
Alongside him, Dr Gerard Millen, Paediatric Oncologist shared: “There’s been a really lovely buzz – to see Perry come in and light the whole room up has been brilliant”
“I think that the Children’s Hospital as part of the city reflects the multiculturalism of our Birmingham – to have the baton pass through has been great for all staff involved.”
Mr Singh added: “The diversity of culture is what makes our Children’s Hospital very special – I think the patients and families benefit from seeing the diversity of staff, working to make their kids better”.
Sarah-Jane said: “We couldn’t do what we do without our commonwealth colleagues that we have got right across BWC, they are a really special part of our workforce. To be able to include them and recognise them today just made it even more special so a huge thank you to them for joining us and everything that they do for BWC.”
Lisa Hampton, Head of the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay, said: “After 25 days travelling across all regions in England and 11 in the West Midlands, it was incredible to kick off our final day of the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
“Thank you to all of the amazing NHS staff and patients for welcoming the Baton and Perry so warmly this morning, and for sending it on the final journey towards Alexander Stadium this evening for the Opening Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.”
This week BWC has been celebrating its 160th birthday with a range of events for patients and staff, including a Doctor’s Day, a cake-cutting ceremony and our own BWC Baton Relay featuring patients and colleagues.